It was a big day for the New York Mets history on April 5, 2012. Johan Santana took the mound for the first time in over a year.
Firstly, a bit of background regarding this particular Opening Day. Santana first came to the Mets in a trade from the Minnesota Twins prior to the 2008 season. New York quickly signed the two-time Cy Young Award Winner to a 6-year extension, which would him with the team through 2013.
Throughout Santana’s first three seasons with the Mets, he performed as the same level he did when they first traded for him, finishing third in Cy Young voting in 2008, being voted to the All-Star Game in 2009 and overall, was the team’s best pitcher through the 2008-2010 seasons.